[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 150 (Monday, August 4, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 45216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17734]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XJ45


New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is 
scheduling a public meeting of its Skate Committee in August, 2008 to 
consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive 
economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to 
the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.

DATES: This meeting will be held on Monday, August 25, 2008, at 9 a.m.

ADDRESSES: This meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn, One Newbury 
Street, Peabody, MA 01960: telephone: (978) 535-4600; fax: (978) 535-
8238.
    Council address: New England Fishery Management Council, 50 Water 
Street, Mill 2, Newburyport, MA 01950.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, 
New England Fishery Management Council; telephone: (978) 465-0492.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Committee will review and finalize the 
Draft Amendment 3 document, which is scheduled for public hearings in 
October. The Plan Development Team (PDT) will also recommend a 
rebuilding schedule and plan for smooth skate that NMFS recently 
determined has become overfished. Amendment 3 proposes catch limits, 
time/area closures, and possession limits to reduce skate landings and 
mortality to levels that are consistent with rebuilding smooth, thorny 
and winter skate biomass while preventing overfishing.
    Although non-emergency issues not contained in this agenda may come 
before this group for discussion, those issues may not be the subject 
of formal action during this meeting. Action will be restricted to 
those issues specifically listed in this notice and any issues arising 
after publication of this notice that require emergency action under 
section 305(c) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, provided the public has 
been notified of the Council's intent to take final action to address 
the emergency.

Special Accommodations

    This meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Paul J. Howard, Executive Director, at (978) 465-
0492, at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

    Dated: July 29, 2008.
Tracey L. Thompson,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. E8-17734 Filed 8-1-08; 8:45 am]
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